Chip-In’s & Chunks: An Aussie Wins, Pace of Play Sucks, and Phil WD’s

Chip-In’s & Chunks is all about the good and bad in the game of golf from the past week. Do you have something to add? Let us know on Twitter @Front9Back9 , Facebook or Google+.

Chip-In’s (the good)

Steven Bowditch Wins Valero Texas Open

Luckily it was a tough day for every golfer at TPC San Antonio on Sunday. It’s not often you see a player pick up a victory in a PGA Tour event with a final round 76. Bowditch overcame gusty wins and a long golf course to score his first PGA Tour victory and more importantly, a Masters invite.

Anna Nordqvist Wins Kia Classic

Anna Nordqvist shot a final round 67 in the Kia Classic to pick up her fourth LPGA Tour victory. This is her second win on the season and joins Karrie Webb as the only other multiple winner on the LPGA Tour in 2014.

Chunks (the bad)

Phil Mickelson Withdraws From Valero Texas Open

It was unfortunate to see Phil Mickelson withdraw from the Valero Texas Open halfway through his round on Saturday. He claims he has an oblique muscle pull and would be heading back to San Diego to get it looked at before deciding on whether he will be playing in Houston this week. Problem is, Phil decided to hang around San Antonio on Saturday to attend the Spurs game with front row seats with his daughter. Seats he probably received for agreeing to come to San Antonio to play. Something needs to be done about golfers withdrawing in the middle of a round.

Pace of Play

5 hours 32 minutes was the time for the final group at Valero Texas Open on Sunday. That’s horrendous. This is not breaking news and it’s been a problem for quite some time now. Rules officials got pretty darn close to popping Andrew Loupe with a penalty stroke, but it didn’t happen. It needs to be done and it needs to be done right away. Rules officials need to put groups on the clock earlier in a round and watch them closely. Maybe it’s time to start employing independent rules officials who have no connection to the PGA Tour.

What do you think? Do you have anything else to add? Let me know below or hit us up on Twitter @Front9Back9.

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